Course Details

How do we approach issues of race, ethnicity, and difference in our current moment of crisis? We live in arguably the most diverse and multicultural time in the nation’s history, yet expressions of “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” are being banned across the country. What are we talking about when we talk about “race” and “racism,” and how did “diversity” come to constitute a fighting word in today’s political climate? In this class, we will engage literature, films, popular culture, and digital media that shape American perceptions of race and racism, as well as examine how racial inequality and everyday forms of discrimination continue to inform our lives as Americans. This semester’s class will focus in particular on racial humor and feature skits from SNL and the work of comedians such as Richard Pryor, Charlie Hill, Dave Chappelle, Margaret Cho, John Leguizamo, Ali Wong, Hasan Minhaj, Ziwe, and others.